Each Brexit paper the government releases leaves us with more questions than answers. Even Brussels must have had enough of this waffle by now.
Go to Source
Author:
Aug212017
Aug212017
UN labour agency launches global panel to address rapid transformations in the world of work
21 August 2017 – The United Nations labour agency has launched a high-level international body that will chart the course towards a future of decent and sustainable work opportunities for all, and to tackle the challenges of delivering social justice in today’s rapidly transforming world of work.
“It is fundamentally important that we confront these challenges from the conviction that the future of work is not decided for us in advance,” said Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) at the launch of the Global Commission on the Future of Work.
According to ILO, the global body is expected to undertake an in-depth examination of the future of work that can provide the analytical basis for the delivery of social justice in the 21st century. It will in particular on the relationship between work and society, the challenge of creating decent jobs for all, the organization of work and production, and the governance of work.
Mr. Ryder reminded the audience attending the launch ceremony in Geneva that these are key issues of our time, which increasingly occupy political life and define hopes, and sometimes fears, of families across the world.
“It is a future that we must make according to the values and preferences that we choose and through policies that we design and implement,” he added.
Co-chairs Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, the President of Mauritius, and Stefan Löfven, the Prime Minister of Sweden, announced the 20 members of the Commission, as the ILO chief underscored that the membership “reflects a balance of geographical regions, of different disciplines. There is gender balance and there is representation of workers and employers.”
The Commission was set up under the ILO’s Future of Work Centenary Initiative launched in 2013 by Mr. Ryder.
Over the past 18 months, in the run-up to the launch of the Global Commission, the ILO’s tripartite constituents – governments, employer and worker organizations – have held national dialogues in over 110 countries. Their outcome will feed into the independent report that will be submitted to the Centenary Conference of the ILO in 2019.
Aug212017
Open consultation: Proposed catch limits for September 2017
Updated: Figures updated
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) sets monthly catch limits for quota species to ensure the UK stays within the overall limit set by the EU. These limits apply to all under 10 meter vessels and the over 10 meter vessels that are not in a co-operative (Producer Organisation).
Please contact the MMO if you have any comment to make about the suggested catch limits which will be put into force on 1 September 2017.
Comments to be received no later than 5pm Wednesday 28 August 2017.
Email FMT.consultation.response@marinemanagement.gov.uk
Telephone 0208 0 269 097
Aug212017
UN health agency rushes to prevent malaria, cholera outbreaks in flood-hit Sierra Leone
21 August 2017 – The United Nations health agency is working closely with the Government of Sierra Leone to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as malaria and cholera in the wake of last week’s mudslides and flooding in the country’s capital, Freetown.
“The mudslides have caused extreme suffering and loss of life, and we must do all we can to protect the population from additional health risks,” said Alexander Chimbaru, Officer in Charge of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Sierra Leone, in a press release.
With damage to water and sanitation facilities, residents of affected areas are particularly vulnerable to outbreaks of pre-existing infectious diseases including malaria and diarrheal conditions such as typhoid and cholera. The most recent cholera outbreak in the country occurred in 2012.
Cholera response kits, including rapid testing tools, are being distributed to areas at risk, while health and community workers are being trained to recognize the signs of priority diseases.
“While the Government and WHO are working hard to strengthen health services in the affected areas, we also urge the population to take the following precautions to help avoid a possible outbreak: hand washing, drinking only water that has been properly boiled or treated, use of latrines for sanitation, and adherence to good food hygiene practices,” added Dr. Chimbaru.
Around 500 people are known to have died as a result of the flooding and mudslides that devastated whole communities in and around Freetown, and hundreds more are still missing.
Aug212017
World news story: Call for bids: Peru Project Funding Opportunity Now Open!
British and local private organisations are invited to submit proposals for projects in Peru. Deadline: 3 September 2017.
Overview
Increasing access to clean energy, especially in remote areas, as well as reducing carbon emissions in line with Paris Agreement commitments are key economic development challenges in Peru. The UK has shown global leadership on this and wants to do more in Peru.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Peru is the third most vulnerable country to climate change in the world. To-date, the country has faced numerous effects, including melting of around 40% of its glaciers and intensification of natural disasters. This has affected, and will continue to affect, the Peruvian economy and we aim to support Peruvian government to build sustainable, clean and inclusive growth driven by UK expertise, leadership and technology.
What We’re Looking For
- The British Embassy looks to fund practical and high-impact projects that help to:
-
Increase access to clean energy, especially in rural areas;
-
Reduce Peru’s reliance on fossil fuels, maximising Peru’s potential to be a leading clean energy producer (solar, wind, hydro and others);
-
Support the promotion of low carbon energy technologies and related support, management and infrastructure;
-
Support the creation of policy, regulatory and legislative frameworks conducive to transition to a low carbon economy;
-
Investigate and resolve operational obstacles to renewable energy projects (community stakeholders, environmental permits/ regulations, project financing, etc.);
-
Increase the sustainability of extractives industries; and/or
-
Help Peru meet its Paris Agreement commitments.
-
Project bids should demonstrate clearly how they will make a difference – research and reports are important, but we’re looking to fund initiatives that lead to real world changes and improvements.
-
We would welcome co-funding opportunities, where the addition of UK skills and expertise could make a difference to larger, on-going initiatives.
-
All bids should have a clear link to the UK, whether that be using UK experience, knowledge, technology or best practice.
How To Bid
Project proposals will be up to £25,000. All activity must be completed, and impact demonstrated, by the end of the UK financial year on 31 March 2018.
Interested implementers will prepare the full bid and the activity based budget (ABB) according to the authorized forms. The full bid in word format and ABB in excel format should be submitted in English via email with the title ‘Peru GBF: project title-name of implementer’ to the email address: BEProjectsPeru@fco.gov.uk. The deadline for submission is 3 September 2017.
Implementers will be advised by email if the proposal has been accepted.
What to Include in the Bid Form?
- Overview of project
- How the project fits with the above priorities.
- How the project will lead to transformational change (outline impact and main changes that the project will impulse)
- Rationale for project – Including why the project should take place now
- Why UK is the partner of choice for such project? This might be due to profiling UK commercial or policy expertise, replicating/adapting a British policy, experience of British implementer, link to highest UK policy priority.
- Support from Peruvian Government: evidence that relevant Peruvian Government Ministry (or Ministries) have been consulted and are supportive of the proposal and its alignment with their own growth plans. Or if not, the bid should explain how the project has sufficient buy-in from the necessary stakeholders to deliver the expected outcomes.
- Communication Strategy, including stakeholders, beneficiary organizations and relevant public communications strategy actions.
- Sustainability once the project has been completed
- Demonstrate with supporting evidence that relevant Country Government Ministry (ies) have been consulted and are supportive of the proposal. Or if they have not, the bid should explain how the project has sufficient buy-in from the necessary stakeholders to deliver the expected outcomes
- Demonstrate that UK and local partnerships are already established.
About Budget
Project proposals must be presented along with a detailed project budget. FCO Project Management Procedures require the delivery of the budget using the Activity Based Budget form. Budgets should list the activities needed to deliver the outcomes (results) of the project. Outcomes should be aimed at promoting transformational change.
85% of the total budget must be spent before December 2017.
Indicative timetable (subject to change)
| Dates | Activities |
|---|---|
| 3 September 2017 | Deadline to submit proposals |
| 11 September 2017 | British Embassy Lima notification to implementers (by email) announcing results |
| 25 September 2017 | Contracts and financial arrangements completed |